Attack of the pumpkins!

Months and months ago I planted some tiny pumpkin seeds, hoping for just one pumpkin this autumn. I have to say, the three plants that I eventually put into the patch have surprised me (shock is probably a more appropriate word!) so much that I'm not quite sure what to do. They have sprawled and grown out of the raised bed and across the lawn! They're even taking over the raised bed that currently houses a similarly rampant potato crop.








I planted the seeds in February in small pots of seed compost. When large enough to handle I replanted in larger pots with regular compost and kept in the greenhouse until the last sign of any frost. At this point there were already flowers and signs of tiny pumpkins, but the stems looked a little weak and I was worried they might not survive. I planted in the raised beds in may with lots more compost (previously I added well rotted manure to the soil in the raised bed) and have kind of left them to it. They didn't grow much in the first few weeks, but with the recent warmth and occasional sun they've really taken off. I'm now in need of researching what to do with the monsters that I've created. My instincts tell me to cut them back and remove some of the flowers to allow the plants to focus all of their energy on the existing fruits, but I could be wrong!

Another worry I've had is with my potatoes. The huge amounts of rain and hardly any sun that we had at the beginning of spring/summer meant that the growth above ground was huge and floppy and falling out of the raised bed (sounds a little 'explicit' no?!) I took the choppers to it and cut it all back...thinking that if I get no potatoes for it then so be it, but it was worth a shot. I was impatient this evening and decided to dig a bit and see what was down there. This is what I found!



Some didn't look very good at all, and there were a few small green ones (poisonous...do not eat) but this isn't bad for just one small dig!! I'm going to leave the rest for at least another month, but this is a promising start. Now for a taste test. Fingers crossed!

Lavender

I'm a lazy blogger! However, I am not a lazy gardener! The recent blast of summer has really got things going in the garden, and it's a never ending task of cutting back, mowing, watering and feeding.

Check out my pumpkins....

 And the tomatoes are certainly coming along

What I am most excited about is the copious amounts of English lavender in my front garden. A few years ago I tried lavender meringues for the first time. A heavenly combination of subtle scent and a hit of gingery spice. It's amazing just how much of an impact a small amount of lavender can make. I'm thinking of a lavender and white chocolate muffin, lavender ice cream and maybe even lavender added to some kind of morrocan stew!

To harvest lavender, cut the freshest looking flower heads and wash them thoroughly. Leave to try in some paper towel and use fresh, removing the flowers from the stems. For dried lavender, which you can add to little sewn parcels to add to drawers or cupboards, or also cook with (dried lavender has a more intense flavour than fresh so use more sparingly), cut longer stems and tie together in a bunch. Hang the bunch upside down in a warm, dry area, and rub off the dried flowers when they are completely dried. This can take up to 2 weeks depending on how wet the foliage is to start with.

 It's July, believe or not. I'm sure I'm not the only brit with a large jumper on right now! As depressing as the recent downpours and chilly weather has been, the garden doesn't appear to be suffering much. My Clematis' just go from strength to strength. This cascade of purple loveliness pours down from my shady arbor; if it was a singer, it would most certainly win the X-Factor!

Other flowers are in all their glory as well. I love this blue lobelia, nestled in the centre of my hanging basket. It looks like little polar bear faces in the sea. And my sweet peas smell divine, although they have gone a little wild, I don't have the heart to disentangle them and manipulate them (plus I've snapped so much off already trying to do just that that it's not worth it).

In an effort to feel more summery, I used my rare weekday off to travel a few more miles than normal to my 'special' Morrison's for some gorgeous and unusual vegetables. Morrison's really have stepped up their game in the fresh food section, and these heirloom tomatoes, smoked garlic, fresh basil and striped aubergines are just a few of the kinds on offer. It's a real pleasure to wander around and buy unusual things; and at least if my veg growing fails, I know I can go to Morrison's! I plan on roasting all of this with a good glug of olive oil and serving with some flaky salmon tonight. The Med on a plate.

Hanging baskets

When I was a child my mum used to meet with her friends at this time of year and have a hanging basket making session. We always had such lovely baskets of trailing flowers all summer long.

In between down pours, and with help from my mum, I've put together my own, with trailing petunias, geraniums and lobelia. I just love how unusual some of these colours are.











Ensure that your basket is full of good quality compost, that the plants have some room to expand, and that you have fun!

Latino inspiration

In my dreams I swan about in a cool courtyard sipping margaritas and chowing down on my own home made refried beans (not at the same time). My years living in Texas really gave me a taste for all things mexicana, but somehow I must accept that it's now a Wiltshire life for me. I love the potted aloe, the iron gate and the white painted brickwork in this courtyard garden.


Photography by Coles Hairston

But just because the weather in the UK is dismal at best, it doesn't mean that we can't have a sprinkling of garden fiesta for ourselves. Aloe grows perfectly well indoors in the UK, and paired with a few lanterns and some candles, can make any English patio feel like a hacienda on a rare warm evening. Rusty metalwork, painted brick and climbers also create a Spanish feel that can't be spoiled by the weather. And if all else fails...here's a cracking recipe for a margarita...just turn up the central heating for a bit!

A classic margarita:-

35ml/1¼fl oz Reposado Tequila
20ml/¾fl oz Cointreau
35ml/1¼fl oz fresh lime juice
handful ice cubes
lime wedge, to garnish




http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/classicmargarita_84327

making the best of what we've got

Poppy

The weather has been so unreliable recently that the garden has been slightly neglected (I'm minimising this here!) I spotted a little petal hanging from a spider web and it sparked my desire to take a few pictures of the garden at the moment.

Petal from spider web

I just love the colours of all of these!

Today is the summer solstice...the longest day of the year! I am fighting the urge to think 'it's all down hill from here'. But the garden is looking fantastic and I am honestly in awe of the growth and the little miracles going on. How can you be miserable with that!?                                                                                                                     

Clematis- shocking purple

The prettiest, frilliest poppy I've ever seen!

Clematis- what a colour!

Some Jubilee Yummies

For the Jubilee weekend we went on a camping trip to Cornwall. Although the weather was dismal, I did get to enjoy using a posh new camera and here are some pics of delicious bread in the Chough Bakery (Padstow) and a Jubilee themed cake in a little cafe called 'Cherrytrees' (Padstow).

The weather can never spoil baked goods!

A selection of beauties from the garden

Little glimpses of promise

Today I potted out my courgettes, balmoral squash, pumpkin squash and lupin seedlings. I realised they looked a little worse for wear because they were trying to do their thing still potted in seed compost. One thing I learned recently is that seed compost has very little nutrients in it. I thought it would be the complete opposite, but seeds do not need much in the way of food to germinate. I'm hoping that now they have been bedded in rich compost they will perk up. Here they are in their new home in the greenhouse.







Other productive things are going on in there as well! I dug out one of my 'sweet olive, tomato plants from the ground bed in the greenhouse as they don't appear to get much direct sunlight in there. On the benches in the greenhouse seems to be the best spot for sunlight. It's looking much healthier now.





I'm considering relocating all of my tomatoes to stand the best chances of a bumper crop. They are receiving regular feeds, but don't seem to be doing much.

I've also been a tad concerned about my pumpkin plants. I adore pumpkin, and the thought of a basket of gnarly looking squash this autumn fills me with excitement, so to lose them would be very upsetting. They need planting out in the raised beds, but we still stand a chance of frost so I'm keeping them pot bound. Not that they seem to like that much either. To my amazement, I found this little baby today!





One thing I cannot deny has been a success is my potato crop. Look at this veritable Forrest of them.




People may well be getting baskets of potatoes from me for Christmas this year!

The rest of the garden looks stunning. Here are a few glimpses...

Bluebells

Every morning and afternoon I am greeted by a sea of waving, cheery bluebells just outside my front door. They have a delicate fragrance that is not quite as arrogant as a hyacinth, but just as sweet.











Amidst that sea of blue are little glimmers of soon to be white lily of the valley, which I am a little over excited to see.





And how can you forget the 'forget me nots'?!




I couldn't resist a little snip so that I get a little greeting every time I'm inside as well!




Glorious!

Getting impatient!

The lack of recent posting is partly due to nothing much happening in the garden, but mostly due to a week long skiing trip in the French alps! It was beautiful seeing such thick snow, crystal clear lakes and mountains that seemed to go up forever!



Back in rainy Wiltshire, there are signs of progress in the vegetable garden. My rows of garlic seemed to have sprouted within days of planting, and there are signs of potato movement under ground.





My onions seemed to take a lot longer to spring into life, but they are there now and reassuring me that planting them in the less sunny place was nothing to be worried about.







I do find that I am stressing about the garden, and doubting myself that I have done the right things. I guess time will tell.

In France I made a delicious soup from some wonderful assortments of tomatoes and peppers that were in the local supermarket. Here is my recipe (which hopefully I will be able to make again with my own produce!)

Ingredients:
1.5 lbs of tomatoes (an assortment of colours is nice)
5 large bell peppers
4 cloves of garlic
2 pints of good chicken stock
3 tbsp of olive oil
2tsp of fresh ground black pepper
1 large white onion
200ml of single cream

Method:
Slice tomatoes in half, de-seed and roughly chop bell peppers, and peel and crush the garlic cloves. Place all of this in a roasting pan with the oil drizzled over, and add black pepper. Roast on a high heat (about 220 degrees Celsius) for about 40 mins (little charred bits are good..lots of lovely flavour in there). I drained off some of the watery liquid half way through to avoid them boiling instead of roasting.

Remove pan from the oven and leave to one side. chop onion and fry in a stock pot with a little oil until translucent. Crush the tomatoes and bell peppers together using a potato masher, fork, or food processor, and add to the cooked onion. Fry for a few minutes, and add stock, simmering on a low heat for 30 mins. Using a hand blender, blend the soup until rich and smooth. Add the cream, and serve with a crusty piece of French bread. Yummy!

Happy Sunday everyone.